Helmut E. Landsberg (1906-1985) was a geophysist and professor of meteorology at the University of Maryland at College Park. Among his many research interests were biometeorology, climatology, and the effects of urbanization on the environment. Other important subjects in the collection are Landberg's editorial projects, his activities in numerous professional and scientific organizations, and his work as special consultant with the U.S. Air Forces in World War II. The collection contains extensive correspondence and publications by Landsberg.

Important Information for Users of the Collection

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Preferred citation:

Helmut Landsberg papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.

Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.

Status:

This collection is PROCESSED.

Historical Note

Helmut Erich Landsberg was a distinguished scientist whose career in the fields of meteorology and climatology spanned over five decades. Landsberg is considered the founder of modern climatology for his pioneering efforts in the statistical analysis of climate, and his wide-ranging research interests which included the effects of urbanization on the environment and biometeorology, the study of weather's effect on human health and behavior.

Helmut Erich Landsberg was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on February 9, 1906. He studied Geophysics at the University of Frankfurt where he earned his Ph.D. in 1930; his dissertation dealt with seismography. From 1930 to 1934 he was the supervisor of the Taunus Observatory at Frankfurt's Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics. Then, in 1934, Landsberg became assistant professor of geophysics at the Pennsylvania State University where he initiated courses in meteorology and geophysics and conducted research in the field of air pollution. During his tenure at Penn State, Landsberg became a naturalized American citizen in 1938. In 1941 he joined the faculty of the University of Chicago as associate professor of meteorology where he taught for two years. From 1942 to 1945, Landsberg was an operations analyst with the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the U.S. Air Force), determining climatic conditions in various theatres of the war for military strategists. In 1946 Landsberg became the acting director of the Joint Research and Development Board's Committee on Geophysical Sciences. Three years later he became director of the committee, whose name had been changed to the Committee on Geophysics and Geography. Subsequently, from 1951 to 1954, Landsberg served as the director of the Geophysics Research Directorate of the U.S. Air Force Research Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In 1954, Landsberg became director of the U.S. Weather Bureau's Office of Climatology. Eleven years later, he was appointed director of the Environment Data Services of the newly-founded Environmental Sciences Services Administration, a position he held until 1966. In 1964 Landsberg returned to the world of academia with an appointment as part-time lecturer at the Institute for Fluid Dynamics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Maryland at College Park. In 1967, Landsberg accepted an appointment as research professor, and, from 1974 to 1976, served as director of the institute. He was also instrumental in founding the Department of Meteorology as well as establishing a graduate program in that discipline at the University. After his retirement from the University of Maryland in 1976, Landsberg became professor emeritus, the position he held at the time of his death in 1985.

Throughout his career Helmut Landsberg published approximately 400 articles in scientific journals as well as in such publications as the Encyclopedia Americana Annual. He also published a number of studies and technical notes while in government service and as a research professor at the University of Maryland. He authored the monographs Climate and Health, Urban Climate, and Physical CLimatology, co-authored additional books, and was editor-in-chief of World Survey of Climatology. Landsberg also edited 19 volumes of Advances in Geophysics, General Climatology, and the Handbook of Applied Meteorology, and served as associate editor of the Journal of Meteorology, Meteorological Monographs, and Boundary Layer Meteorology.

Helmut Landsberg was a member and officer of many scientific and professional organizations. He held fellowships in the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Important offices held by Landsberg include his vice presidency and presidency of the AGU's meteorological section in 1953-1956 and 1956-1959 respectively. From 1966 to 1968 Landsberg served as the AGU's vice president and as its president from 1968 to 1970.

Landsberg was vice president of the AMS (1963-1965) and chairman of the AMS's Awards Committee (1974-1975). Also, from 1969 until 1980 he was president of the American Institute of Medical Climatology. And his affiliation with the World Meteorological Organization included his presidency of the Commission for Special Applications of Meteorology and Climatology (1969-1976), membership in the Advisory Working Group (1978-1981), and membership in the Commission for Climatology (1981-1985).

Landsberg was chairman of the Publications Committee of the International Biometeorological Society from 1960 to 1985, and chairman of section E of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1973. And, in 1975, President Gerald Ford appointed Landsberg to serve a three-year term on the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmospheres.

Landsberg also received numerous awards. Among the most important were the AGU's William Bowie Medal, which he received in 1978, and the IMO prize of the World Meteorological Organization, given to Landsberg in 1979. The following year, the German Meteorological Society presented Landsberg with the Alfred Wegener Medal, and in 1981 he received the AMS's Cleveland Abbe Award. In addition, Landsberg was honored with the William F. Petersen Foundation Award for outstanding accomplishments in the field of biometeorology (1982), and with the National Medal of Science, presented to him by President Ronald Reagan in February 1985.

Helmut Landsberg died on December 6, 1985 while attending a congress of the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The papers of Helmut Landsberg cover the years 1906 to 1985 and consist primarily of correspondence and publications. Other document types included in the collection are page proofs, typed and handwritten manuscripts, as well as some personal documents such as membership cards or passports. The bulk of the materials date from 1967 to 1985, when Landsberg was associated with the University of Maryland at College Park. Important topics covered in the collection are climatic change, biometeorology, the establishment of a graduate program in meteorology at the University of Maryland, editorial projects, Landsberg's activities in numerous professional and scientific organizations, and his position as special consultant with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

The bulk of the records is of an administrative nature, e.g. regarding the arrangements and agenda of meetings. Scientifically relevant materials may be found primarily in Series III: Publications and Research Manuscripts, and in Series V: Scientific and Professional Organizations, filed under the headings "Papers" or "Reports," or under the title of the papers.

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

The papers of Helmut Landsberg were donated to the University of Maryland at College Park Libraries in 1975 by Dr. Landsberg. He gave the library additional materials in 1978. Then, in 1988, Mrs. Frances Landsberg and Norman L. Canfield, Research Associate at the Department of Meteorology, donated additional materials to the collection.

Processing Information

Processed by:

Processed by Birgit Prelle, October 1990.

Processing note:

The collection has been placed into acid-free folders and boxes, paper clips and staples were removed, and the material has been arranged into seven series. Original folder headings and content were maintained whenever possible. Photographs were removed from the papers and transferred to the photographic collection.

Encoded by:

EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Sarah Heim, June 2004.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1: Personal, 1906-1985 (0.25 linear feet)

Documents in this series relate to Landsberg's personal life as well as to his professional life before 1934, when he came to the United States. Many documents, especially those dated prior to 1934, are in German. The series contains Landsberg's official documents, such as his passport, his birth certificate, driver's license, and car insurance. The series also contains Landsberg's membership cards from professional and scientific organizations, as well as welfare organizations and the Boy Scouts of America.

Documents relating to Landsberg's life in Germany include his doctoral dissertation and a photocopy of his doctoral diploma, materials relating to his studies at the Woehler Realgymmnasium High School, the University of Frankfurt, and his employment at the University of Frankfurt.

This series also includes some genealogical materials, such as the doctoral diploma of Landsberg's father Georg. The German language personal correspondence consists of a telegram from Landsberg's parents announcing his birth, two letters written by Landsberg at the ages of six and eight, two birthday cards from his grandfather, and a letter from German friends or relatives.

Finally, the series also contains an undated curriculum vitae, possibly from the early 1980's, which chronicles Landsberg's most important professional activities. Arrangement of the series is alphabetical by topic.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Birth Certificate, 1906

series 1

box 1

folder 1

Boy Scouts, 1923-1927

series 1

box 1

folder 2

Car Registrations, Insurance, and Driver's Licenses, 1936-1964

series 1

box 1

folder 3

Change-of-Address Notifications/ Registration of Residence, 1932-1939

series 1

box 1

folder 4

Clippings, 1931-1933

series 1

box 1

folder 5

Curriculum Vitae, c. 1985
c.1985

series 1

box 1

folder 6

Datebooks, 1973-1978

series 1

box 1

folder 7

Emigration from Germany, 1934

series 1

box 1

folder 8

Finances, Receipts, Donations, 1914-1974

series 1

box 1

folder 9

Genealogy of the Simpson Family and Georg Landsberg, undated

series 1

box 1

folder 10

Georg Landsberg-Doctoral Diploma, 1904

series 1

box 1

folder 11

Health Certificates, 1907-1948

series 1

box 1

folder 12

House Construction, 1946

series 1

box 1

folder 13

Membership Cards of Professional and Scientific Organizations, 1932-1965

series 1

box 1

folder 14

Membership Cards-Welfare Organizations, 1935-1941

series 1

box 1

folder 15

Passports and Other Picture I.D.s, 1925-1944, undated

series 1

box 1

folder 16

Pennsylvania State College-Notifications of Classification, 1942-1944

series 1

box 1

folder 17

Personal Correspondence, 1906-1965

series 1

box 1

folder 18

Professional Organizations-Germany, 1931-1934

series 1

box 1

folder 19

Recreational Activities and Organizations, 1922-1939

series 1

box 1

folder 20

Resume - handwritten, 1931

series 1

box 1

folder 21

University of Frankfurt -- Doctoral Degree, 1930

series 1

box 1

folder 22

University of Frankfurt -- Employment at-Letter of Recommendation, 1931-1933

series 1

box 1

folder 23

University of Frankfurt -- Graduate Study, 1925-1930

series 1

box 1

folder 24

Woehler Realgymmnasium (High School),, 1921-1924

series 1

box 1

folder 25

Who is Who in American Education, 1941

series 1

box 1

folder 26

Series 2: Correspondence, 1946-1985 (4.25 linear feet)

This series has been divided into two subseries. Subseries I consists of chronologically arranged correspondence; subseries II consists of correspondence arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent.

Correspondents in both subseries include fellow scientists, publishers, contributors to Landsberg's editorial projects, and fellow members and officers of scientific organizations. Topics discussed include publications and arrangements for meetings, as well as inquiries from the general public.

In Subseries 1, original headings have been maintained. "Daily Files" contain outgoing correspondence from Landsberg's office. "General" correspondence contains incoming and outgoing correspondence. Subject-specific outgoing correspondence may also be found in other series such as Series IV: Editing or Series V: Scientific and Professional Organizations.

Subseries 2 consists of the bulk of the correspondence and is arranged alphabetically by last name of the correspondent. Additional correspondence may be found in other series, especially in Series IV: Editing and Series V: Scientific and Professional Organizations.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

A - Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1976-1985

series 2.2

box 1

folder 1

A - Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1976-1985

series 2.2

box 1

folder 2

Abbott, Charles Greely, 1970-1985

series 2.2

box 1

folder 3

Academic Press, 1970-1985

series 2.2

box 1

folder 4

Academic Press, 1970-1985

series 2.2

box 1

folder 5

Academic Press, 1970-1985

series 2.2

box 1

folder 6

Academic Press, 1970-1985

series 2.2

box 1

folder 7

American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1977-1983

series 2.2

box 2

folder 1

American Institute of Biological Sciences - Dr. John Busser, [1969]

series 2.2

box 2

folder 2

Architectural Research Associates, 1979

series 2.2

box 2

folder 3

Armstrong, R. Warwick, 1967

series 2.2

box 2

folder 4

Army, U.S. Department of-[Proposal Evaluations],, 1968-1970

series 2.2

box 2

folder 5

Association of American Geographers-Commission of College Geography, 1966

This series contains copies of Landsberg's German and English language publications, as well as drafts of publications including manuscript versions and page proofs. The series also contains research notes, correspondence relating to publications, and papers presented or lectures given. Landsberg's reviews of publications by other scientists are also included in this series, as is a copy of the published version of Landsberg's doctoral dissertation Vergleich der Aufzeichnung zweier Galitzinpendel mit verschiedener Eigenperiode. These materials are arranged alphabetically by title of publication or manuscript.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Abstracts and Reviews, undated

series 3

box 1

folder 1

"Acidity of Low-Level Clouds"-Research Project with the Department of Energy, 1982-1984

Series 4: Editing, 1950-1985 (4.25 linear feet)

The documents in this series relate to Landsberg's activities as editor-in-chief of the World Survey of Climatology and as editor of Advances in Geophysics and the Handbook of Applied Meteorology, which later appeared under the title Handbook of Applied Climatology. This series consists primarily of correspondence between Landsberg and other contributors and editors or the publishers, Elsevier and Academic Press. Topics discussed include editorial comments, scheduling of contributions, and admonishments of late contributors. Included are also literary reviews of the works, as well as drafts and page proofs of forewords by Helmut Landsberg. Arrangement is alphabetical by volume and subject.

Series 5: Scientific and Professional Organizations, 1941-1985 (7 linear feet)

This series consists primarily of correspondence relating to Landsberg's activities in a large number of professional and scientific organizations. Other document types present include minutes of meetings and papers delivered at meetings. The records of the National Science Foundation include proposal reviews of research grant proposals (restricted for a period of 25 years), as well as Landsberg's own research proposals and documents relating to the research done under an NSF grant. The records of the International Society of Biometeorology include documents relate to the Seventh Biometeorological Congress which was held at the University of Maryland in College Park in 1975. These materials have been arranged alphabetically by organization.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

American Association for the Advancement of Science -- Constitution and Draft Resolutions, 1972

series 5

box 1

folder 1

American Association for the Advancement of Science -- Correspondence, 1942-1985

series 5

box 1

folder 2

Department of Agronomy-Geology Curriculum, 1964-1968

series 5

box 1

folder 2

American Association for the Advancement of Science -- Papers -- "The Atmosphere from Farm to Town", 1975

series 5

box 1

folder 3

American Association for the Advancement of Science -- Papers -- "How Is Our Climate Fluctuating?", 1976

series 5

box 1

folder 4

American Association for the Advancement of Science -- Papers -- "Recent Climatic Fluctuations and the Outlook for the Near Future", 1977-1978

Series 6: University of Maryland, 1964-1985 (0.75 linear feet)

This series consists primarily of correspondence and memoranda relating to Landsberg's position as professor of meteorology at the University of Maryland. Documents deal with the establishment of a graduate program in meteorology and a large variety of administrative issues, as well as the protest of university faculty across the nation against the visit of Soviet scientists to the United States. Few documents relate to Landsberg's teaching or research activities; most are of an administrative nature. These materials have been arranged alphabetically by topic.

Series 7: Other Employment, 1938-1984 (0.75 linear feet)

Documents in this series relate to Landsberg's professional activities outside the University of Maryland. Included are research notes and reports produced during World War II, when Landsberg was special consultant to the Army Air Forces, as well as forms and correspondence, largely of administrative character, covering Landsberg's employment in various government positions.

This series also includes correspondence with various universities regarding employment. In addition, the files for Pennsylvania State University and the University of Chicago include correspondence regarding Landsberg's research and publications.

A third group of documents relates to Landsberg's activities as free-lance consultant to various corporations. Arrangement is alphabetical by employer.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Application for Service Retirement, 1976

series 7

box 1

folder 1

Army Air Forces -- Operations Analyst: Research in the Armed Forces, 1944-1945

Army Air Forces -- Special Consultant -- Employment Documents, 1942-1944

series 7

box 1

folder 4

Army Air Forces -- Special Consultant -- Identification Cards, 1943-1944

series 7

box 1

folder 5

Army Air Forces -- Special Consultant -- Letters to Servicemen's Families, 1943

series 7

box 1

folder 6

Army Air Forces -- Special Consultant -- Personal Correspondence while in England, 1944

series 7

box 1

folder 7

Army Air Forces -- Special Consultant -- Property List and Issuance, undated

series 7

box 1

folder 8

Army Air Forces -- Special Consultant -- Reports and Recommendations, 1942-1946

series 7

box 1

folder 9

Army Air Forces -- Special Consultant -- Reports on Weather Conditions for Bombardment of German Targets, undated

series 7

box 1

folder 10

Army Air Forces -- Special Consultant -- Weather Conditions in Europe, 1944 and undated

series 7

box 1

folder 11

Army Air Forces -- Technical Observer: Correspondence and Orders, 1942-1945

series 7

box 1

folder 12

Army Air Forces -- Consulting -- Air Products and Chemicals, 1980-1981

series 7

box 1

folder 13

Related Material

Landsberg's major monographs are available at the Hornbake or McKeldin Libraries on the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. The Historical Manuscript and Archives Department's holdings also include technical notes authored or coauthored by Helmut Landsberg and published by the Institute of Fluid Dynamics and Applied Mathematics, as part of the university publications collection; a copy of the proceedings of a symposium held to honor Dr. Lansberg, published as Climate in Human Perspective: A Tribute to Helmut E. Landsberg (Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1991), is part of the department's reference shelf as well. Dr. Landsberg's private library was donated to the Rare Books Department in McKeldin Library and to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Library.

For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.

Selected Search Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.

Subjects

Climatology -- Study and teaching -- History -- Sources.

Landsberg, Helmut Erich, -- 1906- -- Archives.

Meteorologists -- Archives.

Meteorology -- Study and teaching -- History -- Sources.

University of Maryland, College Park. -- Dept. of Meteorology -- History -- Sources.